Chair-bed combination



Sept. 11, 1962 R. MILLER 3,053,568

CHAIR-BED COMBINATION Filed Feb. 5, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet l /NVE/VTOR RETHA MILLER T a v" A T TOR/V575 P 11, 1962 R. MILLE? 3,053,568

CHAIR-BED COMBINATION Filed Feb. 5, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Tiqfi. Q

I/VVE/VTOR RE THA M11. L ER ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,053,568 CHAIR-BED COMBINATION Retha Miller, Alameda, Califi, assignor of one-half to Clarence A. Silva, Castro Valley, Calif. Filed Feb. 5, 1960, Ser. No. 7,005 2 Claims. (Cl. 297-78) This invention generally relates to apparatus which is capable of being used as a hospital bed or guerny for transporting a patient in a prone position and which is readily convertible into a wheel chair for supporting a patient in a sitting position.

Heretofore, it has been suggested to provide a combination bed and chair apparatus, the general purpose being to facilitate movement of a patient from a conventional hospital bed by first using the bed-chair apparatus in a flat patient-supporting position, similar to a guerny, and subsequently altering the apparatus to support the patient in a seated condition. Transfer of the patient back to the bed is done in the reverse. While such apparatus possesses theoretical advantages, certain shortcomings have prevented their commercial adoption to any substantial extent.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide apparatus capable of supporting a patient in either a reclining or seated position in which means are provided for moving the patient-supporting surface through a large variety of movements thereby greatly facilitating the handling of the patient, including a fore and aft rocking motion.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character described in which the patient-supporting surface may be brought into adjacent relation with a bed in selective positions of vertical adjustment, and then tilt-ed so as to aid in the loading or unloading of a patient thereon.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus as above defined in which the patient supporting surface is capable of lateral movement relative to the rest of the apparatus so as to properly receive a patient from a bed or place a patient in a bed, and which likewise may be rotated about a generally vertical axis of the apparatus.

A still further object of my invention is to provide apparatus of the type referred to in which the patient supporting surface is flat and unobstructed, yet in which portions of said surface form arm rests, etc. when converted from its flat position to a chair position.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawings and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the apparatus with the parts shown in their flat position.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus when converted to a chair, portions of the base being broken away to illustrate the means for rotating the chair or bed, the position of the chair parts when converted back to the bed as shown in FIGURE 1 being illustrated in dot-dash lines.

FIGURE 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicated by line 33 of FIG- URE 2, the bed shown in tilted position by the dot-dash lines.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicated by line 4-4 of FIGURE 3; and

3,053,568 Patented Sept. 11, 1962 illustrating structural details of the bed rotating means, bed rocking means, and further details of the tilting mechanism.

As hereinabove explained, the apparatus of the present invention is adapted for ready conversion between the horizontal flat patient-supporting member shown in FIG- URE l and the chair structure illustrated in FIGURE 2, and while in both of these different positions (particularly the fiat position) be capable of a wide variety of movements. As will be later more fully explained, these movements are of great importance in the proper handling of a patient and particularly when the patient is being transferred from or to the apparatus from a hospital bed. In fact, even without its ability to convert into a wheel chair the apparatus possesses a flexibility not found in conventional guernys or the like.

Referring now to the drawings, a patient supporting mechanism 6 is shown adjustably positioned on a base structure 7. The latter may simply comprise a pair of longitudinally extending rails 8 having at least a center cross brace 9 for securing the rails together. Suitable depending brackets 12 are provided at the ends of the rails to receive wheels 13 for rollably supporting the entire unit. If desired, hand engaging elements may extend upwardly from the rails whereby an attendant may roll the apparatus along the floor, but such an arrangement is generally conventional and forms no part of the present invention.

In order to permit conversion of the mechanism 6 between its two positions of patient support, the same is constructed from a number of planar elements suitably pivoted together in a manner presently to be described. Commencing with the head end of the apparatus, a relatively large planar element 16 is provided which constitutes the back of the chair shown in FIGURE 2 or the head and upper torso supports when positioned flat as viewed in FIGURE 1. wardly offset portions at its forward end in order to receive projections 17 of a central planar seat element 18, such projections being pivotally attached to element 16 by pins 19 or the like. A foot element 21 includes a pair of side pieces 22, a cross bar 23 provided with projections 24 pivotally connected to the forward end of the seat element by pins 26. Additionally, a planar element 27 is pivoted to the sides 22 by pins 28.

Arm members are likewise provided on each side of the apparatus which can be moved from the arm rest position shown in FIGURE 2 to a completely planar position with the back, seat and foot supporting elements 16, 18 and 21. As here shown, each of such members include a first link 31 pivotally attached at one end to back element 16 as shown at 32 and a second link 33 pivotally attached at 34 to link 31 and likewise pivotally attached at 36 to the forward end portion of the seat element 18. Additional linkage is provided on the under side of link 33 and side piece 22 which includes an arm 38 attached to link 33, a like arm 39 fixedly secured to piece 22, the ends of arms 38 and 39 being pivotally interconnected by a link 41 by pins 42 and 43 respectively.

With the foregoing explanation, the ready conversion from a completely planar horizontally disposed patient supporting bed or guerny to a generally conventional chair may be understood.

Novel means are provided for adjustably supporting the mechanism 6 on the base structure 7 in order to permit the previously discussed movements of the bed or chair, and each of such adjustments may now be discussed.

Extending upwardly from the center of cross brace 9 is a vertical post 51 provided with a central well 52. in which a piston 53 is mounted for both vertical and rotary motion. Suitable seals (not shown) may be provided be- Element 16 is provided with intween the walls of well 52 and piston 53 to prevent leakage therebetween. A pair of conduits 54 and 56 communicate with the well beneath the piston 53, and the same are operatively associated with pedal actuators 57 and 58 for effecting hydraulic raising and gravital lowering of the piston in a conventional manner, and likewise effecting a vertical raising and lowering of mechanism 6 which is supported by the pistons. In general, the support of the mechanism is effected through a rotary disk 61 secured to the upper end of the piston, the latter supporting a bracket 62 having upstanding flanges 63 at the ends thereof and a central projection 64. A member 66 includes a pair of depending ears 67 pivotally secured to projection 64 by a pin 68. Member 66 is provided at its ends with depending arcuate segments 69 for a purpose later to be explained, and opposed parallel rails 71 extending parallel to the axis of pivot pin 68. Journalled at 75 between said rails at each end thereof is a pivot element 72 carrying a pair of rods 73 in parallel relation to the rails. A block 70 carried by the lower surface of the seat is provided with a pair of parallel bores 74 for slidably receiving selected pairs of the rods 73.

Completing the structure, the segments 69 are provided with arcuate segment gears 76 which are engaged by pinion gears 77 mounted on a shaft 78 journalled through flanges 63 and projection 64-. Attention is also directed towards disk 61 which is provided with an aperture 81 through which a shaft 82 normally extends in order to prevent disk rotation. The shaft is mounted for vertical reciprocation in lugs 83 carried by post 51 and interconnected through suitable linkage 84 to a crank 86 for effecting shaft movement between disk locking and release position.

With respect to the movement or adjustments, it will be clear that rotary movement about a central vertical axis is effected by rotating piston 53 in the post 51, by lowering the locking detent 82. Since the mechanism 6 is operatively supported on the disk 61 which is secured to the piston, free rotary adjustment of the mechanism is provided.

As to vertical adjustment, a pumping of pedal 57, for example, will create a pressure subjacent the lower end of piston 53 and raise the same, while actuation of pedal 58 releases the pressure in the well, permitting a gravital descent of the piston and the apparatus carried thereby.

A third type of movement, namely a rocking movement about a horizontal transverse axis is accomplished by actuation of a handle 91 of shaft 78, the latter causing the pinions 77 to move the segment gears 76 and consequently member 66 and block 70 and the seat element 18 about the shaft 78.

A further important movement is that of lateral horizontal movement which permits the mechanism 6 to be brought into overlying relation to a bed. As best seen in FIGURE 3 of the drawings, the block 70 has a length no greater than that of one pair of rods 73. When the block is centered, as illustrated in solid lines, the ends of each of the opposed pairs of rods are engaged by the bores in the blocks, and in such position, no pivoting of the elements 72 about pivots 75 is possible. However, by sliding the block to completely embrace one set of rods, the block will no longer be engaged with the other set, and in this latter position, i.e., one of lateral displacement, the element 72, rods 73, block and the supporting mechanism 18 may be tilted about a generally longitudinal axis. This will of course facilitate the transfer of a patient and the tilted movement is illustrated in dotdash lines in a greater than normal degree of tilt for purpose of clarity.

With the foregoing, it will be appreciated that substantially universal movement may he obtained, thereby materially increasing the utility and desirability of this type of apparatus.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus of the character described including a generally planar patient-supporting member, a base structure, means operatively supporting said member on said base structure including a post extending upwardly from said base, a vertical element mounted for vertical and rotary movement relative to said post, a bracket support member carried by the upper end of said element, and a bracket depending from said patient supporting member slidably engageable with said last named member whereby said members may be laterally adjusted relative to each other, said bracket supporting member including a pivotal connection interconnecting the same to said element.

2. Apparatus of the character described including a generally planar patient-supporting member, a base struo ture, means operatively supporting said member on said base structure including a post extending upwardly from said base, a vertical element mounted for vertical and rotary movement relative to said post, a bracket support member carried by the upper end of said element, and a bracket depending from said patient supporting member slidably engageable with said last named member whereby said members may be laterally adjusted relative to each other, said bracket supporting member including parallel pivot elements at opposite sides thereof, and said bracket being selectively movable into engagement with one of said elements for tilting movement therewith.

. References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,981,271 Koenigkramer Nov. 20, 1934 2,053,852 Tracy Sept. 8, 1936 2,295,006 Philips Sept. 8, 1942 2,587,068 Sanders Feb. 26, 1952 2,672,917 Collura Mar. 23, 1954 2,691,782 West Oct. 19, 1954 

